DelBene leaving Microsoft — again

Suzan DelBene, the vice president of Microsoft’s mobile communications marketing group, has decided to leave the company to pursue “new opportunities.” Her last day is Sept. 1.

Suzan DelBene Photo: Microsoft

DelBene was not available for comment, but this is not the first time that she has left the software giant.

In 1998, she departed after a nine year stint to join drugstore.com as vice president of marketing. In 2000, she jumped to Nimble Technology, a venture-backed Seattle startup that was eventually sold to Actuate, before returning to Microsoft in February 2004 to lead marketing efforts in the mobile group.

In a statement, DelBene said she is proud of her accomplishments at Microsoft and that the Mobile Communications Business has “strong leadership in place and a solid plan for success.”

The statement did not say what her “new opportunities” entail, though DelBene obviously is not afraid to take leaps into the startup ranks. So is another startup in her future?